A number of Russian players have been disqualified from participating in the World Championships because of the manner in which they left their NHL clubs by flying back to Russia without permission and consequently being disqualified. While NHL could not prevent these players from signing in Russia (due to a lack of a transfer agreement between the two leagues), the league could prevent them from participating in IIHF competition. This likely hurts the players significantly, as it is highly prestigious to skate for the national team in Russia. The list of players includes Alexei Kaigorodov (Phoenix Coyotes), Vadim Khomitski (Dallas Stars), Andrei Taratukhin (Calgary Flames), Stanislav Chistov (Boston Bruins), Alexander Svitov (Columbus Blue Jackets), and Maxim Kondratiev (Anaheim Mighty Ducks).

Vadim Khomitski (Dallas Stars)'s game worn CCM Red Army tea jersey added. This is an authentic game worn CCM jersey worn by the Russain Red Army Penguins club during the mid 1990s. Please click on the Read More link to view the jersey. READ MORE

Despite the fact that many players have returned from North America, the best are still trying to make it in the NHL. And if it does not work out on the first try, then on the second. For example, Vadim Khomitski (Dallas Stars) in three weeks will once again go to Dallas. During a conversation with Sport Today correspondent he explained why. A Sport Today Publication interview. READ MORE

Vadim Khomitski (Dallas Stars) signed a one way deal with the Dallas Stars and will attend the NHL club’s training camp. The talented young defenseman attended last year’s camp and then was sent down to the AHL, where he excelled for the few games he was there until he decided to return to Russia and be with his pregnant wife. He spent the 2006-07 season with HC Khimik and represented Russia on the national team at the World Championships.

Vadim Khomitski (Dallas Stars) has temporarily left the Iowa Stars to be with his pregnant wife in Russia. The young player has been one of the Iowa Stars top defenseman, leading the blueliners in scoring. Officially, he appears to be suspended without pay by the club, but he is expected to return to North America and will likely be allowed to rejoin the club. The young defenseman appears to remain fully committed to the Stars and no report has come from his Russian club HC Khimik regarding him joining their ranks.

As previously reported, Vadim Khomitski signed a deal with the Dallas Stars. The length is one year and other terms of the agreement have not yet been disclosed. Reportedly, Khomitski does have a clause in his contract that would allow the young defenseman to return to Russia if he fails to make the NHL club.

Russian Super League - Vadim Khomitsky discusses the prospects of him signing a deal with the Dallas Stars. He also touches upon the situation that surrounded his departure from HC CSKA, as well as his current contracting standing with Super League's HC Khimik. READ MORE

Russian Super League - Vadim Khomitsky continues to be on track to join the Dallas Stars for the 2006-07 season. The 82 born defenseman is reportedly in contract negotiations with the NHL club. The negotiations have been confirmed by Leonid Weisfield, the general director of his Russian club HC Khimik, in an interview with Soviet Sport newspaper correspondent Dmitri Ponamorenko. He further confirmed that the young defenseman’s contract will likely have a clause that will allow him to return to Russia if he does not make the NHL club’s roster.

Russian Super League - Vadim Khomitsky (Dallas Stars) Interview: Vadim reflects regarding his time with CSKA, his NHL potential and his love for physical style of hockey and smaller sized rinks. READ MORE

January 2007 Update Has continued to play strongly since returning to Russia to be with his pregnant wife...skates on the first defensive pairing for HC Khimik...continues to shoot the puck often from the perimeter and does not hesitate to join in the offensive rush... a physical player who brings a significant presence with him to the ice ...tough to play again in his zone...has improved his quickness since last season.

Size & Physical Play: Vadim Khomitski is a physical defenseman. He is very aggressive and is usually at his best when he is fighting for the puck next to the boards. He can lay down a serious hit on an opponent on the boards and in the open ice. Size wise, he is not impressively big - about 6""2 and 185 pounds. However he is solid and has great strength. On CSKA""s roster, he is comparable to Alexander Polushin, so he is not a tank, but definitely carries some serious force. Skating: Khomitski is an above average skater. He has good coordination and lateral movement. Khomitski is not a sped skater, and his top speed is about average, but his acceleration is also nothing to complain about and at times he uses it to surprise opponents and join in on the attack. Shot: Khomitski""s shot is about average. It has some power, but Khomitski rarely shoots on the net to really evaluate his shot. Technical Skills: Khomitski""s puck handling is very good. He sees the ice well and makes good decisions with the puck. The young defenseman is capable of bringing the puck up the ice by himself and often joins in on the attack. When on the offensive he can make some great passes, and has been noted for that ability on several occasions. Defense: Khomitski is a very physical, aggressive defenseman. He is usually solid in his own end of the ice, but Khomitski is also prone to making positional mistakes on occasion. Also, he is known to take occasional penalties for his hits, which puts his team at a disadvantage. Overall: Vadim Khomitski is a strong, solid utility defenseman. He will never be a star, but is a reliable top four guy. He is very aggressive and is also capable to make things happen on offense with his good passing. Khomitski does need to improve his position selections on defense, his shot and his speed skating.

Back In Russia:

2006-07: During the summer of 2006, Khomitski signed a one year deal with the Dallas Stars, arriving at the NHL club’s training camp. He was one of the last cuts and joined the AHL’s Iowa Stars, with whom he skated for a month before returning back to Russia to be with his pregnant wife. In Russia, Khomitski’s career hit a snag due to injury, but also due to the fact that he joined a new club, Khimik (Mytische) and joined this new club after the regular season had already started. As a result it took him a while to adjust to the new surroundings, and the injury did not help matters. After the conclusion of the season, Khomitsky signed a new one year deal with the Dallas Stars, only this time the deal was a one way contract without a relegation clause. 2003-06: Vadim Khomitsky spent the next three seasons skating for HC CSKA and rapidly ascended to become one of the club’s top defensemen. He further improved his skating and continued to be aggressive at both ends of the ice. Additionally, he started to receive more and more call-ups to the Russian national team. 2002-03: The young defenseman made an impressive transition from the Upper League to the Super League. He skated the entire season on CSKA's second defensive pairing, playing well defensively and at times providing his team an offensive boost. Vadim began his professional career in Vosskresensk in Khimik""s hockey school. He made his debut Super League debut towards the end of the 1998-99 season, when Khimik ran out of funds and threw in their youngsters to compete in the Super League relegation tournament. Vadim played in nine games, and, at just 17, it was a rough experience for him and the team, as Khimik did not remain in the Super League and was relegated down to the Upper League. Half way through the 1999-2000 season he was transferred from Khimik to Viktor Tikhonov""s HC CSKA Moscow. He played mainly on the fourth defensive pairing with his new team, but still managed to get around 7-10 minutes a game. During the 2000-01 season Vadim finally established himself as a solid Upper League caliber defenseman. He played in 44 games, and accumulated 89 PIM, as well as nine points. His performance did not go unnoticed and he was invited to join the national team, though primarily in a back up, defensive role. During the 2001-02 season, Vadim continued to move up in CSKA defensive corps. He now competed on the team""s second or third defensive pairings and Viktor Tikhonov began to use him on the power play. The result was less penalties and more points for Vadim, who recorded his career high 17 points (2+15) in 56 games, adding another three assists in the Final Tournament where the top eight Upper League teams competed for two vacant Super League spots. Vadim""s career highs was an indicator of the team""s overall performance, as CSKA made it""s way back into the Super League. The 2002-03 season started off a bit differently, as CSKA retooled a bit over the summer, acquiring some new talent for the defensive corps. Vadim continued to play on the team""s third defensive pairing, mainly teaming with former NHLer and current CSKA captain, Ilya Byakin.

NHL Outlook:

Dallas Stars drafted Vadim in the 4th round, 123rd overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Khomitsky is a talented two way defenseman who brings a physical edge and energy to the ice. He works hard and has a great attitude and an open mind, which will help him adjust to North America. His primary downside is his footspeed and trouble adjusting to the faster North American game, but if he can overcome this, he would make a very impressive top six, and possibly even top four blue liner on any NHL club.